The MG brand's improved MG3 supermini is a sporty value-orientated proposition that now boasts a smarter look and a longer warranty. Jonathan Crouch reports.
The MG3 is a supermini you probably won't have considered. Yet it's fun to drive, practical to own and vastly more affordable than the conventional choices in this segment. If you don't need class-leading efficiency and you're prepared to forgive a few rough edges in return for the big savings on offer, then in this improved form, it could rank as a very clever choice.
There's something about the two letters 'MG' that strikes a chord in the British consciousness. The brand named after 'Morris Garages' way back in 1924 has been a part of our automotive heritage for nearly a century. And still they come: take this car, the MG3 supermini.
As with this model's MG GS Crossover stablemate, it's true to say that this car is properly British-developed, with its styling and drive dynamics created by many of the same talented folk who at the turn of the century brought us the surprisingly satisfying MG ZR, ZS and ZT family performance models. Chinese manufacturing clout also means the brand can bring this Fiesta-sized supermini to market for up to 30% less than obvious rivals. Which leaves MG able to claim what they see as an unbeatable combination of fun and value for this car. Does it deliver that in this revised guise? Let's find out.
As usual with the MG3, the only engine option is a 1.5-litre petrol unit that MG owners SAIC bought in from GM, though a little compensation comes with the news that it has in more recent times been brought up to cleaner Euro6 standards and develops a healthy 105bhp, substantially more than most direct rivals can offer. That means a reasonable turn of speed, rest to sixty two achievable in 10.4s en route to a 108mph top speed. Though it's true that most of this car is Chinese, many of the bits that really matter are British through and through - an observation especially true when it comes to the elements concerned with ride and handling. There are suppler-riding cars in this class and more sportily-suspended ones, but few models of this kind that I can think of achieve a better combination of both over good roads and bad. Which for a first attempt in this segment, is quite an astonishing achievement for the Longbridge-based development team given that the class in question contains models of the talent of Ford's Fiesta.
Body roll is brilliantly controlled, grip is prodigious and there's better feedback through the steering than in most Gtis we've driven, primarily perhaps because modern era electric steering hasn't made it to MG yet. The downside of that is that the helm is heavy during parking manoeuvres in the kind of urban environment where the option of an automatic gearbox would be nice to have.
The main change to this revised MG3 is revised exterior front end styling which adds what the brand calls a 'star-rider' grille. This frames the brand's famous octagonal logo. The company claims it's "a distinctive statement of modern British style designed to target young and style conscious buyers". Make of that what you will.
The interior will come as a welcome relief to anybody who's a bit baffled by the complexity and deep technology of many modern superminis. Climb out of a Peugeot 208, with its tablet computer style central infotainment system and, without being unduly blunt, it's very different. Still, the MG3 is tidy inside with seats that look and feel very Volkswagen. In the lightly upgraded cabin of this revised model, there are a few white touches around the stereo, on the steering wheel, the door pulls, handbrake and gear lever but aside from that, everything is uniformly grey. Sit in the back seats and you'll find the front seats are sculpted to improve leg room, while the rear headroom is genuinely impressive.
Prices start at under £13,500, getting you this supermini-sized car for less than the kind of money you'd pay for a little citycar. All models get signature front LED lights and a hill holder clutch as standard, with all but the entry model featuring a high quality DAB audio system. Safety-wise, there are six airbags, electronic stability control, corner brake control and traction control.
There are two different versions offered in the MG3 line-up; the entry grade 'Excite' and top 'Exclusive Nav'. All versions come with Bluetooth as standard, plus an 8” colour touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, DAB radio and steering wheel audio controls. The 'Exclusive Nav' version adds a reversing camera with dynamic guidelines. And of course, navigation. As before, a key attraction for many people will be how much fun they can have creating their own MG3, with a huge range of colours, exterior graphics, interior colour packs and leather upholstery created by the UK design team and inspired by the British fashion industry.
Of course, the downside of getting a lot more engine is getting a fair bit less fuel economy and the MG3 can't hope to bend the laws of physics and return better fuel figures than many eco specials. The current Euro6 engine does get a stop start system though. The 140g/km of CO2 figure (NEDC) remains nothing to write home about and the WLTP-rated combined cycle fuel figure of 42.3mpg is rather behind the competition curve too. Still, balance that against the fact that this car will be much less expensive to buy than its immediate price rivals - and will offer more fun behind the wheel. Plus it will be pretty cheap to insure, rated at just 4E. And you get a long seven year / 80,000 mile warranty.
You can see why this MG3 sold over 10,000 units in its first four years on sale. The five-door shape squeezes a lot of styling into its four metre length and the price and equipment levels are very competitive, though of course MG has a long way to go in this country before it can mix it with the big names.
With more power to call upon than its rivals, this car promises to be a far more effervescent steer than, say, a much pricier and poorly equipped entry-level Skoda Fabia. Of course, despite the Euro6 engine improvements, it still won't be quite as efficient to run as one of those. Mind you, the value proposition ought to compensate for much of that. Overall then, it's trendy, tightly priced, good to drive, spacious and cheap to insure. If MG can get its marketing right, a significant number of people might be tempted by all that.
